Law and Disorder

Guest post by Suzann Darnall

I feel like there is a game show happening in our courtrooms all across America which works for the criminals much more than it works for victims and law-abiding citizens. In my opinion, life in the so-called justice system definitely seems to be more about “let’s make a deal” than about “law-n-order”.

Plea bargains lead to all kinds of shenanigans which make a criminal look significantly less guilty. Even if caught red-handed in the act, charges are pled down or dismissed. Pleas can be made that essentially result in the lack of a criminal record or at least no record that person was ever found guilty. Again, even if caught red-handed in the act of breaking the law!

Oft times, plea offers are made for lesser charges based on the idea that the defendant has no significant criminal history. But, how does that play out when similar charges have been dismissed or pled down? Where is the justice in that? How are victims supposed to feel protected by the legal system and law enforcement when their safety and fears are just dumped from the scales of justice in the interest of reducing the caseload or some such nonsense.

If anyone wants to know why so many Americans choose to exercise their Second Amendment right, just look to the number of criminals who are freed every single day from the consequences of their bad choices. Many citizens feel we cannot rely on law enforcement or the justice system to protect us from the bad guys. I am not saying law enforcement doesn’t want to protect us, I am saying it is just not realistically possible for them to do so.

Perhaps judges and lawyers feel they are doing the best they can, as well. But, guess what? Pieces of paper and slaps on the wrist don’t provide a lot of protection for a citizen targeted by a criminal.

Now, I am not saying that there are not times when mercy is necessary in part to the justice system. Pardons and expungements have a place when working with those who have made restitution or otherwise earned consideration for their errors in judgement. But, the wheeling and dealing taking place in courtrooms currently is like giving criminals a free pass before they have made good on the bargain they’ve been given.

And, don’t even get me started on the insanity of there apparently being no easily accessible comprehensive listings that combine all arrests and incidents committed by a criminal in a variety of locations. So that, over and over, a criminal can be treated as a first time offender ‘cause no one in that location knows what happened elsewhere. This would be at least part of how what should have been seen as red-flag situations turned into dangerous or even deadly confrontations.

So many people are big fans of the idea of “Can we talk?” for resolving issues. Well, I would like to tell law enforcement and legal systems to start talking amongst themselves first and foremost. Quit worrying about who has jurisdiction and simply tell one another about the bad guys. In this day and age, with the technology available, there should be no reason that every law enforcement agency across America does not have access to the names and records of every criminal across this nation.

In a more genteel age a law enforcer was sometimes called a peace officer. I, for one, could use a little more peace-n-quiet and peace of mind in my life. The kind that comes from knowing the good guys have a better handle on what the bad guys are doing. That comes from having better information. And, that comes from sharing what you know with others who need to know.

I ‘d like a little less “let’s make a deal” and a little more “let’s make it real” in our court system. There should be real consequences for breaking the law, as well as real justice for the victims. Remember that real people are awaiting your decisions. People who have been threatened or hurt. People who live with fear and other consequences every day. It is not just about clearing dockets. It is not just about protecting the defendant rights. It is also about the crime and the victim. Never forget, victims have rights, too.
Read more by Suzann at Wooly Mammoth.org